Wortley Hall Walled Garden Timeline: Page 1 - before1700

Wortley Hall
1500 1600

1252 1510 1621

The Wortley family A hunting lodge is Iron Working
obtain a grant of free built in underway on
warren. This allowed Wharncliffe Chase the Wortley
them to hunt deer and by Sir Thomas estate, probably
develop a Chase on Wortley. around the site
Wharncliffe Craggs. of the present
Top and Low
forges.
Tudor Hall built on
There was probably a the site of the
Medieval Hall owned by current Wortley
the Wortley’s in Hall. This was
Wharncliffe Chase during surrounded by a
this period. deer park.

What’s happening in the rest of the country?

1066 1533

William the Queen

Conqueror is Elizabeth
crowned King of crowned.
England.
Wortley Hall Walled Garden Timeline: Page 2 - 1700s

Walled Garden
1700

1642 1731 1757-

1757- 61

Sir Francis Wortley Development of Matthew Brettingham

turned Wortley the present commissioned to
Hall into a Royalist Wortley Hall develop east wing.
fortress, garrisoned begins.
with 150 dragoons
to resist the
Parliamentarians.
In 1644 he was
imprisoned in the 1742-
1742-1746 1784 -1800
Tower of London.
Giancomo Leoni Further additions
commissioned to by John Platt of
remodel S front, terrace Rotherham and
and steps of hall. John Carr of York.

1641-
1641-1651
English Civil War.
Fought between ‘Royalist’
supporters of King
Charles I and
‘Parliamentarians’ who
supported wanted the
power of the king limited
by that of Parliament.
17th -18th Century
‘Agricultural revolution’ begins to transform
the English Countryside and new scientific
developments accompany a more general
growth of learning and literacy. The
aristocracy demonstrate their command of
learning and knowledge by emulating
classical Roman and Greek architecture and
landscape.
Wortley Hall Walled Garden Timeline: Page 3 - 1800s

Timeline
1800

1797 1826 1838 - c.1856

Estate records record
landscaping activities
around the ornamental
garden and the digging
of clay for 500,000
bricks (probably for the
building of the walled
garden).
Wortley Edward Law – Head Gardener.
family styled Census data shows that in 1841
the ‘Earls of Law was 31 years old and lived in
Wharncliffe’ . ‘Daisy Cottage’ with his wife,
mother in law, servant and two
under-gardeners. Like many 18th
century head gardeners Law was
born in Scotland.

1822 1831-
1831-1837
Charles Joseph Harrison – Head Gardener.
Harrison Head Influential advisor to the patrons of
Gardener. Sheffield Botanical Gardens and
founder of notable gardening
periodicals Floricultural Cabinet,
Gardeners and Foresters Record
and Floral Calendar and Garden
Almanac.

18th -19th Century

South Yorkshire landed estates increasingly exploiting their mineral wealth

through the licensing and direct exploitation of coal royalties – resulting in
the massive expansion and development of local halls and parks.
Wortley Hall Walled Garden Timeline: Page 4 - 1900s

1900

c.1856-
c.1856-1864 1938
John Robert Duncan, from Kent,
is Head Gardener. Census data Earl Whancliffe sets up the
lists JDR as a ‘boarder’. Aged 25 ‘Market Produce Company’
in 1861 when the census listed to sell surplus produce
the two under gardeners as from the estate, including
living in the ‘Gardeners food from the walled
Sheds’ (probably the bothies garden.
along the north wall).

1864 - c.1895 1940

John Simpson, another Scotsman Returning troops following
is Head Gardener. The 1871 the evacuation of the
census lists him as resident in British Expeditionary Forces
‘Gardeners House’, possibly the from Dunkirk are
‘garden cottage’ in the stable temporarily stationed in
yard. Simpson probably lived in Wortley Park.
the newly built ‘Avenue Cottage’.

1914-
1914-1918 1939-
1939-1945

World War I World War II

1914-
1914-1945

During the early 20th century the wealth of traditional

aristocratic dynasties are progressively eroded due to increased
death duties and the unsustainable size of their estates. As many
as 25% of large country houses are demolished, abandoned or
sold.
Still more (including Wortley) requisitioned or otherwise
occupied during WWII.
Wortley Hall Walled Garden Timeline: Page 5 - 1900s to Present

2000

1942 1950 2004

Over 300 African Wortley Hall is After many

American servicemen purchased by a years of disuse,
stationed in the grounds co-operative of the Walled
of Wortley Hall and workers for the Garden is
segregated from white benefit of the brought back
officers billeted in the labour into cultivation
Hall itself. Tensions in movement. by Heeley City
the local community are Farm.
investigated by the
American Inspector
General’s Office in
response to the fears of
Earl Wharncliffe.

1st Jan, 1947 (Vesting Day)

The ‘National Coal Board’ is formed to take

control of the UK coal industry. Whilst existing
owners receive financial compensation, the loss
of income further reduces the financial viability
of many estates like Wortley which have up to
now been financed with incredible coal revenues.